Conquered The Mountain

Well we have finally conquered all of Mount Timpanogos. On Wednesday we hiked up to Timpanogos Cave with our Neighbors. They have 3 kids. They are so fun, and we really had a great time. The kids struggled a bit on the way down. They were screaming and crying that they couldn't walk another step. Soo dramatic. All I could do was laugh (is that mean?) They're kids... what can you say? Don't worry they got in the car and were happy and ready for lunch.
Then on Saturday we hiked Mount Timpanogos with our friends Brent and Christa. We left at 5 am and got home at 3 pm. We stopped a few times for different things, like losing the camera and Drew running back a mile and a half to find it, and for my blisters I got on my heels after 2 hours of hiking. Never again will I wear hiking boots. Anyway, it was still soooo fun! The last few hours of the hike up to the summit we had to hike up a glacier, which was pretty tough, but on the way down we got to go sledding without the sled! It was amazingly beautiful, and with the glacier and waterfalls everywhere it was awesome. On the way down we slid down a few more snow patches. We got more and more daring, which made for more and more cuts and bruises. Overall it was great! Drew and I were talking about how hiking is one of those things that makes you really appreciate everything.... the fact that it is so beautiful, that we have bodies that allows us to do things like this, and that we can go home and have air conditioning and take a shower. Which felt so good.
Also, yes I am wearing the same thing on both hikes, and yes I did wash them before both hikes.

This is hiking Timp Cave. Look at the kids, I love it!

This is when we reached the top.


This is inside the cave. They call it the heart of the cave behind me. (Don't you love the bandaid on my neck?)

She actually was happy inside the cave, although she doesn't look it.

This is right when we started on the path up the mountain.

Awesome waterfalls! One of many.

They are staring out into the distance.

We had to cross these all the time, actually a bit scary. Drew stepped once and broke through the snow, with a river below.

This is the path to the summit, a bit narrow.

We made it!

This is the shelter up at the top. Very windy. And very cool.

We had to hike this going up.

As you can see we didn't hike down. It was soooo fast, and hard to stop.

Here is Drew with some goats.

Gorgeous Lake

Midway

Last night we went up to Midway, Utah. It's where I ran my half marathon. We really liked it when we were there so we thought we should make a trip out of it the next time. It's just a really cute little mountain town. It's really beautiful. We had such a great time. We relaxed, we went to the golfing range to hit some balls (which was right next to a gorgeous river), then we remembered seeing something being set up down the road for a concert. After "golfing" we were sitting in a gazebo and heard the concert starting, and we thought maybe we would go check it out. Then I said what if Ryan Shupe was there.. jokingly. And low and behold it was Ryan Shupe and Peter Breinholt. It was so great!! We were so excited. The concert was great, and afterwards we got a pic with Ryan.
The next day we slept in really late, which is fun sometimes. Then we had breakfast next to a cute little pond. After that we went to the crater. And then sadly we left.
I love spending time with my man. We just always have so much fun. I love him!!

This is a picture from the top of the crater.

Here they are in action.

I was so excited, but I tried to play it cool.


Here is our little breakfast table. We fed the ducks what we didn't eat.

Ok we didn't feed them everything we didn't eat. I knew it was going to be large, but you've got to be kidding me.

This is me pointing down to the crater.

And this is looking up.

Here's Drew relaxing. It is 65 feet deep.

Trips

The past few weeks have been really fun. We have been able to spend a lot of time with family. First we went to Breckenridge with Drew's fam, and it was a blast! The house we stayed at was incredible and it was just perfect. We all went on a little hike, we had a foosball tournament (don't ask), we went in the spool several times, we played games, went to the park, had a manliest man competition, ate a lot of good food, and just relaxed. I love the Foster fam, it's guaranteed to be fun. I am so glad to be part of the family.

Then we went on a trip with my parents to Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, and Arches. It was amazing. We hiked Bryce, which was seriously incredible, and did shorter hikes at the others. Drew and I camped and my parents stayed at a hotel. We packed a lot in for 3 days. It was so fun to be with them, and to have a little family vacation again.

Here's my manly man during the rock throw.

This is the sledge hammer competition.... so manly

The football tossThe car push..of course

The 40 yard dash up hill

Bryce Canyon

A little far away, but that's ok

There were these tunnels that were so neat.

Taking a little break

Look how strong he is!

"Ohhh Kristen Take my picture!"

Our little friend found our apple core.

This was the most awesome view.

This is the famous arch that is on the Utah licsence plates. It's a little far away.

This is "Double Arch" it was so cool.















You can barely see Drew, but he's there.

The Garden

Well everyone we now have a garden. I really wish that I took pictures from the very beginning because it looks a little different now. The area was covered with weeds and very hard dirt. We just went to town on it on Monday, and after that I was sooo sore. Then we finished it up yesterday. Although we had some more room so I am going to go get a few more plants today. We found a lot of interesting things while digging. Drew found a piece of foundation that he dug up with his pick-axe (I think he felt pretty manly), along with nails, kids toys, doll clothing, etc..
We got a few different veggies, so we hope they turn out right. We also got one pumpkin that says it could be 500 pounds! We joke about that because we know that's not true. Anyway, I am now a fan of gardening.

p.s. Teaching is the best.... summers off.... livin it up.